Minutes of the Rotary Club of Mobile—June 21, 2018
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by John Dukes.
Kate Carver gave the invocation, followed by Larry Sindel who led us in song and the Pledge.
Introduction of Guests & Visitors: Jeff Zoghby introduced our guests and visiting Rotarians.
Announcements: Earnest Ladd advised the 2018 Rotary Tarpon Tournament will take place Saturday, July 28. The captain’s meeting is set for Thursday, July 26 at Ruth’s Chris. Full and complete information, including how to become a sponsor, can be found at www.rotarytarpon.com. All proceeds support Rotary projects and the Rotary Foundation.
Program: Stephen McNair introduced our speaker, Dr. Carl Cunningham Jr., advisor, Mobile Kappa League. The Mobile Kappa League is a program for the educational, occupational and social guidance of male students in grades 9-12.
Kappa League was founded in 1969 by the Los Angeles Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Members of the fraternity began forming Kappa Leagues across the country. The Mobile Kappa League was established in Mobile at Toulminville High School in 1979. The program is now countywide. Dr. Cunningham is serving his 16th year as advisor to the Mobile Kappa League. Kappa League has five primary focus areas in the development of young men. They are self-identity, training, competition, social development and health education. Kappa League students are active in the community, participating in such events as Startup Weekend, financial literacy workshops, and community service with agencies such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Kappa League students work a minimum of 25 service hours during the summers. Students are also encouraged to hold fundraisers to support Kappa League initiatives. The ultimate goal is to help the student graduate from high school and be work-ready for a career, or move on to higher education. Since 2005, Kappa League students have earned $32 million in scholarship offerings.
Dr. Cunningham highlighted recent success stories of four young men who are presently attending Auburn University, Stanford University, Alabama State University and the University of Florida. He then called on current Kappa League President, Stefon Ward, a student at St. Luke’s Episcopal School, to address the club.
After a question and answer session, John Dukes thanks Dr. Cunningham for his presentation and presented a certificate to him, noting that a donation in his honor had been made to the Rotary International Foundation.
The meeting was adjourned at 1 p.m.
Bob Chappelle